Information processing apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method for simply providing the results of searches as expected by users searching for broadcast content. A search space processing section  103  acquires a search keyword based on search information coming from a user terminal, and searches a search keyword dictionary database for search-related keyword data related to the search keyword. On the basis of the search keyword and search-related keyword data, the search space processing section  103  generates a search keyword space and submits the generated space to a correction process. A search processing section  104  compares the corrected search keyword space, EPG data, and an EPG keyword space for a match. A search display processing section  105  prepares a list of display-ready information from the result of the matching and sends the list to the user terminal. This invention can be applied advantageously to systems that provide broadcast content information over the Internet.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus andan information processing method. More particularly, the inventionrelates to an information processing apparatus and an informationprocessing method for permitting simple and efficient searches forbroadcast contents.

BACKGROUND ART

The recent popularization of personal computers among the general publichas been accompanied by widespread use of full-text search systems overthe Internet, such as Yahoo! (registered trademark) and Google(trademark). A typical full-text search system prompts a user todesignate a keyword that is used by the system as a basis for searchingthe entire Internet or a designated range thereof for anythingapplicable to the designated keyword.

The full-text search scheme is also applied to broadcast content searchsystems that utilize EPG (Electronic Program Guide) data. EPG data ismade up of content information such as broadcast content titles andintroductions to content details. A full-text search by a typicalbroadcast content search system is illustratively aimed at searching theEPG data for content information about the broadcast content provided bythe broadcast stations located in a user-designated area over apredetermined period of time starting from the day of search.

However, the total number of content tiles included in the PEG dataapplicable to the keyword search is typically as small as 4,000. Only 40to 80 percent of the available broadcast content is covered by thecontent information. In addition, how much content information existsabout the broadcast content varies according to genre. For example,large percentages of content information exist with respect to dramas,sports and movies; whereas only limited percentages of contentinformation are available about documentaries.

The content information included in the PEG data is most often expressedin text form. Furthermore, each of the broadcast content titles in theEPG data is about 20 characters long in text, and the introductions tothese content titles are less than 100 characters long in text each.That is, the numbers of the characters making up the content information(i.e., text length) are appreciably limited.

Because the EPG data is primarily constituted by article and storiesderived from newspapers and magazines and turned into electronic form,large portions of the data have been semantically compressed for spacereasons. (Illustratively, a “five-minute cooking session” is abbreviatedto “cooking”). The semantic compression and abbreviation lead tonumerous homonyms and acronyms being produced in the EPG data. When theuser enters a keyword for a search, a large number of homonyms can thusbe encountered in the content information in EPG.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1, a typical broadcast content searchsystem presupposes that a search keyword space 3 designated by the userwith a search keyword 1 is identical to the search keyword 1 (i.e.,search keyword 1=search keyword space 3). Since an EPG data space 4 (anaggregate of EPG data subject to searches) is not very large, the rangeof content titles actually retrieved by a search with the keyword 1 canbe smaller than the user's expected space 2 which is an aggregate ofsearch results hoped for by the user. That is, the number of broadcastcontent titles retrieved using the search keyword 1 can be significantlysmaller than the number of broadcast content titles expected by theuser. This state of affairs has obviously been disappointing to theuser.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstancesand provides an apparatus and a method for providing in a simplifiedmanner the results of searches for broadcast content as expected byusers.

In carrying out the invention and according to one aspect thereof, thereis provided an information processing apparatus including: firstgenerating means for generating a content information space based oncontent information and on additional information related to the contentinformation; receiving means for receiving search information from aninformation processing terminal over a network; first acquiring meansfor acquiring a search keyword from the search information received bythe receiving means; searching means for searching a search-relatedinformation database for information related to the search keywordacquired by the first acquiring means; second generating means forgenerating a search keyword space based on the related informationretrieved by the searching means and on the search keyword; comparingmeans for comparing information in the content information spacegenerated by the first generating means with information in the searchkeyword space generated by the second generating means; preparing meansfor preparing a list of display-ready information from the informationdeemed to match as a result of the comparison by the comparing means;and transmitting means for transmitting the list of display-readyinformation prepared by the preparing means to the informationprocessing terminal.

Preferably, the information processing apparatus may further includeupdating means for updating the search-related information database onthe basis of the content information space generated by the firstgenerating means.

The preparing means may preferably prepare the list of display-relatedinformation from the matching information derived from the comparison bythe comparing means, in accordance with the search information.

Preferably, the information processing apparatus may further includesecond acquiring means for acquiring the content information fromanother information processing apparatus over the network.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided aninformation processing method including: a first generation step ofgenerating a content information space based on content information andon additional information related to the content information; areception step of receiving search information from an informationprocessing terminal over a network; an acquisition step of acquiring asearch keyword from the search information received in the receptionstep; a search step of searching a search-related information databasefor information related to the search keyword acquired by in theacquisition step; a second generation step of generating a searchkeyword space based on the related information retrieved in the searchstep and on the search keyword; a comparison step of comparinginformation in the content information space generated in the firstgeneration step with information in the search keyword space generatedin the second generation step; a preparation step of preparing a list ofdisplay-ready information from the information deemed to match as aresult of the comparison in the comparison step; and a transmission stepof transmitting the list of display-ready information prepared in thepreparation step to the information processing terminal.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided arecording medium which records a program in a computer-readable format,the program including: a first generation step of generating a contentinformation space based on content information and on additionalinformation related to the content information; a reception controllingstep of controlling receiving search information from an informationprocessing terminal over a network; an acquisition step of acquiring asearch keyword from the search information received in the receptioncontrolling step; a search step of searching a search-relatedinformation database for information related to the search keywordacquired by in the acquisition step; a second generation step ofgenerating a search keyword space based on the related informationretrieved in the search step and on the search keyword; a comparisonstep of comparing information in the content information space generatedin the first generation step with information in the search keywordspace generated in the second generation step; a preparation step ofpreparing a list of display-ready information from the informationdeemed to match as a result of the comparison in the comparison step;and a transmission controlling step of controlling transmission of thelist of display-ready information prepared in the preparation step tothe information processing terminal.

According to an even further aspect of the invention, there is provideda program which controls a computer to execute: a first generation stepof generating a content information space based on acquired contentinformation and on additional information related to the contentinformation; a reception controlling step of receiving searchinformation from an information processing terminal over a network; anacquisition step of acquiring a search keyword from the searchinformation received in the reception controlling step; a search step ofsearching a search-related information database for information relatedto the search keyword acquired by in the acquisition step; a secondgeneration step of generating a search keyword space based on therelated information retrieved in the search step and on the searchkeyword; a comparison step of comparing information in the contentinformation space generated in the first generation step withinformation in the search keyword space generated in the secondgeneration step; a preparation step of preparing a list of display-readyinformation from the information deemed to match as a result of thecomparison in the comparison step; and a transmission controlling stepof controlling transmission of the list of display-ready informationprepared in the preparation step to the information processing terminal.

Where the information processing apparatus, information processingmethod, recording medium, and program according to the invention are inuse, a content information space is first generated on the basis ofacquired content information and of additional information related tothe content information. Search information is then received from aninformation processing terminal over a network, and a search keyword isacquired from the search information thus received. A search is madethrough a search-related information database for information related tothe acquired search keyword. A search keyword space is then generatedbased on the related information thus retrieved and on the searchkeyword. Information in the content information space is compared withinformation in the search keyword space. A list of display-readyinformation is prepared from the information deemed to match as a resultof the comparison. The list of display-ready information thus preparedis then transmitted to the information processing terminal.

In the description that follows, the term “network” will refer to anarrangement on which at least two apparatuses are interconnected so thatany one of them may transmit information to any of the other connectedapparatuses. The apparatuses communicating with one another over thenetwork may be either an independently established apparatus each or maybe internal blocks that constitute a single apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view explaining a conventional content informationsearching system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a typical configuration of a contentinformation providing system embodying this invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view explaining the content information providingsystem shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting a typical structure of a userterminal included in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a typical structure of a serverincluded in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram indicating a typical functional structure ofthe server in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a tabular view explaining typical EPG data for the server inFIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view explaining a typical structure of EPG keyworddata for the server in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9A is a tabular view explaining typical EPG keyword data for theserver in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9B is a tabular view explaining other typical PEG keyword data forthe server in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view presenting a typical structure of searchkeyword dictionaries for the server in FIG. 2.

FIG. 11A is a tabular view explaining typical search-related keyworddata found in the search keyword dictionaries shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11B is a tabular view explaining other typical search-relatedkeyword data found in the search keyword dictionaries in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11C is a tabular view explaining other typical search-relatedkeyword data found in the search keyword dictionaries in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11D is a tabular view explaining other typical search-relatedkeyword data found in the search keyword dictionaries in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of steps constituting an EPG keyword spaceupdating process performed by the server in FIG. 2.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of steps constituting an EPG keyword spacegenerating process of step S3 in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of steps constituting a search keyword dictionarygenerating process of step S5 in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing another typical functional structureof the server in FIG. 2.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of steps constituting a broadcast contentsearching process performed by the server in FIG. 2.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of steps constituting a search keyword spacegenerating process of step S123 in FIG. 16:

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of steps constituting an EPG-related dictionarysearching process of step S141 in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of steps constituting a cast name dictionarysearching process of step S152 in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a tabular view showing a typical structure of an EPGdata-related dictionary for the server in FIG. 2.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of this invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a typical configuration of a contentinformation providing system practiced as one preferred embodiment ofthis invention. User terminals 21-1 and 21-2 are connected to a network22 exemplified by the Internet (wherever the user terminals need not bedistinguished individually, they will be simply referred to as the userterminal 21 hereunder). Although the configuration in FIG. 2 shows onlytwo user terminals configured, there may be any number of user terminalsconnected to the network 22 in practice.

A server 23 and an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) providing apparatus 24are connected to the network 22. In practice, any numbers of servers 23and EPG providing apparatuses 24 may be connected to the network 22.

The EPG providing apparatus 24 generates EPG data about contents to bebroadcast by broadcast apparatuses, not shown. The generated EPG data isprovided to the server 23 over the network 22. The EPG data typicallyinclude broadcast content titles and introductions to the contents.

The server 23 acquires the EPG data from the EPG providing apparatus 24.Given a search keyword designated from the user terminal 21, the server23 searches the EPG data for relevant content information about thebroadcast content to be broadcast by the broadcast apparatuses. Afterretrieving the relevant content information containing the keyword, theserver 23 transmits list display information about the retrieved contentinformation to the user terminal 21 over the network 22. This allows theuser to obtain the information about desired broadcast content.

The content information providing system of FIG. 2 is explained belowwith reference to FIG. 3. In order to search for desired broadcastcontent, the user possessing the user terminal 21 sends a search keyword41 to the server 23 over the network 22. At this point, the user expectsthat a plurality of broadcast content titles will be retrieved accordingto the search keyword 41. An aggregate of the search results expected bythe user is called the user's expected space 42 hereunder.

The server 23 searches a search keyword dictionary database (DB) 165(FIG. 6) for search-related keyword data (related information) relevantto the search keyword 41 sent from the user. On the basis of the searchkeyword 41 and search-related keyword data thus acquired, the server 23generates a search keyword space 43.

The server 23 also adds related EPG keyword data (additionalinformation) to the EPG data acquired from the EPG providing apparatus24, thus generating an EPG keyword space 45, an aggregate of the EPGdata and EPG keyword data. It follows that an EPG data space 44, whichis an aggregate of the EPG data alone, is included in the EPG keywordspace 45.

The server 23 compares the search keyword space 43 with the EPG keywordspace 45 for matching. On retrieving the keyword-including contentinformation deemed to match, the server 23 provides the user with listdisplay information about the retrieved content information.

In the manner outlined above, the server 23 provides the user terminal21 with the list display information made up of the content informationabout numerous broadcast content titles.

FIG. 4 depicts a typical structure of the user terminal 21. In FIG. 4, aCPU (central processing unit 61) performs diverse processes inaccordance with programs held in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 62 or withprograms loaded from a storage section 68 into a RAM (Random AccessMemory) 63. The RAM 63 may also accommodate data needed by the CPU 61 inexecuting its processing.

The CPU 61, ROM 62 and RAM 63 are interconnected via a BUS 64. The bus64 is also connected to an input/output interface 65.

The input/output interface 65 is connected to an input section 66including a keyboard and a mouse; an output section 67 formed by adisplay such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or an LCD (Liquid CrystalDisplay) and by speakers; a storage section 68 typically composed of ahard disk drive; and a communication section 69 constituted by a modemand/or a terminal adapter. The communication section 69 carries outcommunication processes over the network 22.

The input/output interface 65 is also connected to a drive 70 as needed.Typically, a magnetic disk 71, an optical disk 72, a magneto-opticaldisk 73, or a semiconductor memory 74 is loaded into the drive 70.Computer programs are read from the storage medium loaded in the drive70 and installed into the storage section 68 as needed.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a typical structure of the server 23.In FIG. 5, the server 23 has components ranging from a CPU 91 to acommunication section 99 which correspond respectively to the componentsranging from the CPU 61 to the communication section 99 in the userterminal 21 of FIG. 4. The basic structure of the server 23 is the sameas that of the user terminal 21 and thus will not be discussed further.

The bus 94 is also connected to an EPG space processing section 101, asearch dictionary processing section 102, a search space processingsection 103, a search processing section 104, and a search displayprocessing section 105.

The EPG space processing section 101 generates an EPG keyword space 45based on the EPG data acquired from the EPG providing apparatus 24 andon the EPG keyword data related to the acquired EPG data. The EPGkeyword space 45 thus generated is stored into a database 100. Inaccordance with the data constituted by the generated EPG keyword space45 (i.e., EPG data and EPG keyword data), the search dictionaryprocessing section 102 updates the search keyword dictionary database165 (FIG. 6) stored in the database 100.

Given the search keyword 41 sent by the user, the search spaceprocessing section 103 searches the search keyword dictionary database165 in the database 100 for search-related keyword data. The searchspace processing section 103 then generates a search keyword space 43made up of the search keyword 41 and search-related keyword data.

The search processing section 104 compares the search keyword space 43with the EPG keyword space 45 for matching. Following the comparison,the search processing section 104 supplies the search display processingsection 105 only with the keyword-including content information deemedto match. In turn, the search display processing section 105 prepareslist display information for furnishing a list display of the matchingcontent information, and transmits the list display information to theuser terminal through the communication section 99.

The input/output interface 95 is also connected to the database 100. Thedatabase 100 includes an EPG database 162 (FIG. 6) that retains the EPGdata acquired from the EPG providing apparatus 24, and the searchkeyword dictionary database 165 that is updated by the search dictionaryprocessing section 102. Data is typically read by the CPU 91 from thedatabase 100 and supplied to the relevant components of the server 23 asneeded.

A drive 110 is attached to the input/output interface 95 if necessary.Illustratively, a magnetic disk 111, an optical disk 112, amagneto-optical disk 113, or a semiconductor memory 114 is loaded intothe drive 110. Computer programs are read from the storage medium loadedin the drive 110 and installed into the storage section 98 as needed.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram indicating a typical functional structure ofthe server 23. The functional blocks shown in FIG. 6 are implemented bythe CPU 91 carrying out corresponding control programs.

In FIG. 6, the EPG space processing section 101 is made up of an EPGkeyword data acquisition section 141, an EPG data acquisition section142, an EPG keyword space generation section 143, and an EPG keywordspace recording section 144. The search dictionary processing section102 is formed by an EPG keyword acquisition section 151, a searchkeyword material acquisition section 152, a search keyword dictionarygeneration section 153, and a search dictionary recording section 154.The database 100 is constituted by an EPG keyword database 161, an EPGdatabase 162, an EPG keyword space database 163, a search keywordmaterial database 164, and a search keyword dictionary database 165.

The server 23 periodically acquires EPG data from the EPG providingapparatus 24 through the communication section 99. The acquired EPG datais stored into the EPG database 162. The EPG data acquisition section142 acquires the EPG data from the EPG database and supplies the acquiredata to the EPG keyword space generation section 143.

FIG. 7 is a tabular view showing typical EPG data held in the EPGdatabase 162. The EPG data is made of content information about aplurality of broadcast content titles. Each item of content informationis in text form and is constituted by one or a plurality of keywords. InFIG. 7, a content information item al about a broadcast content titleidentified by a content ID “0001” indicates that the content title is“OK?,” the broadcast station is “Fuji TV,” the broadcast date is “12/01”(which means December 1st), the broadcast start time is “12:00” (whichmeans twelve o'clock noon), the broadcast end time is “13:00,” the genreis “Variety show,” and the content introduction is “At noon, Likewise, acontent information item a2 about a broadcast content title identifiedby a content ID “0002” indicates that the content title is “WNS,” thebroadcast station is “TV Tokyo,” the broadcast date is “12/01,” thebroadcast start time is “23:00,” the broadcast end time is “23:45,” thegenre is “Others,” and the content introduction is “The city news is . .. ” A content information item a3 about a broadcast content titleidentified by a content ID “0003” indicates that the content title is“Cooking,” the broadcast station is “NHK,” the broadcast date is“12/01,” the broadcast start time is “13:55,” the broadcast end time is“14:00,” the genre is “Cooking,” and the content introduction is “Forcooking, . . . ”

The EPG keyword database 161 holds beforehand the EPG Keyword datarelated to the EPG data. The EPG keyword data is acquired by the EPGkeyword data acquisition section 141 and supplied to the EPG keywordspace generation section 143. Alternatively, the EPG keyword data may beinput through the input section 96. As another alternative, the EPGkeyword data may be acquired from an EPG keyword data providingapparatus, not shown, by the communication section 99 over the network22.

FIG. 8 shows a typical structure of the EPG keyword database 161. TheEPG keyword database 161 is formed by broadcast content title EPGkeyword data 181 and by cast name EPG keyword data 182. The EPG keyworddata include additional information related to a plurality of broadcastcontent titles. Each item of the additional information is composed ofkeywords.

FIG. 9A is a tabular view explaining typical broadcast content title EPGkeyword data 181. In FIG. 9A, an additional information item b1 about abroadcast content title identified by a content ID “0001” indicates thata formal title is “Is it OK to laugh?” and a common title is “OK?”Likewise, an additional information item b2 about a broadcast contenttitle identified by a content ID “0002” indicates that the formal titleis “World news satellite,” the common title is “WNS,” and a populartitle 1 is “World news.” An additional information item b3 about abroadcast content title identified by a content ID “0003” indicates thatthe formal title is “Five-minute cooking,” the common title is“Cooking,” and the popular title 1 is “5-min. dish.”

As described-above, a title (that may be called by viewers) related tothe formal title of the broadcast contents is registered in thebroadcast content title EPG keyword data 181 including a title describedin the EPG data.

FIG. 9B is a tabular view explaining typical cast name PEG keyword data182. In FIG. 9B, an additional information item c1 about cast names fora broadcast content title identified by a content ID “0001” indicatesthat a cast name 1 is “Tsumori” and a cast name 2 is “Takiya Kimura.”Likewise, an additional information item c2 about cast names for abroadcast content title identified by a content ID “0002” indicates thatthe cast name 1 is “Maoko Ogawa” and the cast name 2 is “Heitaro Oyama.”An additional information item c3 about cast names for a broadcastcontent title identified by a content ID “0003” indicates that the castname 1 is “Ichiro Miyamoto.”

In the manner described, the cast name EPG keyword data 182 cover theregistered names of the cast for each broadcast content title. Theregistered names here include those omitted from the EPG data.

The EPG keyword space generation section 143 compares the EPG data withthe EPG keyword data related to the data for matching, and causes theoutput section 97 to output the results of the comparison. The EPGkeyword space generation section 143 then causes the EPG keyword spacerecording section 144 to record into the EPG keyword space database 163the matching EPG keyword data and EPG data as an EPG keyword space 45regarding the EPG data in question. The EPG keyword data include datathat have been input by an administrator of the server 23 through theinput section 96.

Illustratively, if a formal title “Five-minute cooking” is used as asearch keyword 41 for a search, it is possible to retrieve the contentinformation a3 (FIG. 7) including only the abbreviated title “Cooking”which was not retrieved conventionally during searches.

The EPG keyword acquisition section 151 acquires from the EPG keywordspace database 163 the EPG keyword data and EPG data included in thenewly recorded EPG keyword space 45. The acquired data is supplied tothe search keyword dictionary generation section 153.

The search keyword material database 164 holds in advance a generalsynonym dictionary that has been input through the input section 96, thedictionary containing generally used synonyms. The data in this generalsynonym dictionary is fed from the search keyword material acquisitionsection 152 to the search keyword space generation section 153 as searchkeyword material data.

The search keyword dictionary generation section 153 acquires dictionarydefinition data 203 (FIG. 10) from the search keyword dictionarydatabase 165. Based on the dictionary definition data 203 thus acquired,the search keyword dictionary generation section 153 records into thesearch keyword dictionary database 165 the EPG keyword data and EPG datain the newly recorded EPG keyword space 45, as well as the searchkeyword material data (general synonym dictionary data), assearch-related keyword data.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view presenting a typical structure of the searchkeyword dictionary database 165. In the example of FIG. 10, the searchkeyword dictionary database 165 is constituted by a general synonymdictionary 201, an EPG data-related dictionary 202, and dictionarydefinition data 203.

The general synonym dictionary 201 holds as search-related keyword datathe general synonym dictionary data that is supplied from the searchkeyword material acquisition section 152 to the search keyworddictionary generation section 153.

The EPG data-related dictionary 202 is formed by a content titledictionary 211 and a cast name dictionary 212. The cast name dictionary212 is further made up of a personality name dictionary 221, a groupname dictionary 222, and a character name dictionary 223. Each of thesedictionaries contains the EPG keyword data and EPG data constituting theEPG keyword space 45 as search-related keyword data.

The dictionary definition data 203 is data that define the types ofsearch-related keyword data stored in each of the dictionariesconstituting the EPG data-related dictionary 202. On the basis of thedictionary definition data 203, the search keyword dictionary generationsection 153 determines which of the dictionaries forming the EPGdata-related dictionary 202 is to accommodate any newly recordedsearch-related keyword data (EPG keyword data and EPG data in EPGkeyword space 45).

FIGS. 11A through 11D are tabular views explaining typical structures ofthe dictionaries constituting the EPG data-related dictionary 202. Asshown in FIG. 11A, the content title dictionary 211 has the formaltitles of broadcast content titles associated in storage with theircommon or popular names which have been commonly adopted throughabbreviation or have simply become popular among viewers. For example, aformal title “World news satellite” in a search keyword data item d1 isassociated with a common name “WNS” and a popular name 1 “World news”being stored.

The personality name dictionary 221, as shown in FIG. 11B, has theformal names of personalities, singers or other well-known peopleappearing in broadcast contents, associated in storage with their commonor popular names which have been commonly adopted through abbreviationor have simply become popular among viewers. For example, a formal name“Kazuyoshi Moritsu” in a search-related keyword data item e1 isassociated with a common name “Tsumori” being stored. A formal name“Takiya Kimura” in a search-related keyword data item e2 is associatedwith a common name “Kimutaki” and a popular name 1 “Takiya” in storage.A formal name “Ringo Katori” in a search-related keyword data item e3 isassociated with a common name “Ringo” and a popular name 1 “Ringo-mama”being stored.

The group name dictionary 222, as depicted in FIG. 11C, has the formalnames of groups to which the personalities appearing in broadcastcontent belong, associated in storage with common or popular group nameswhich have been commonly adopted through abbreviation or have simplybecome popular among viewers. For example, a formal name “SNAP” in asearch-related keyword data item f1 is associated with a common name“Sunappu” being stored.

The character name dictionary 223, as indicated in FIG. 11D, has theformal names of characters appearing in broadcast content (dramas,movies, etc.), associated in storage with common or popular characternames which have been commonly adopted through abbreviation or havesimply become popular among viewers. For example, a formal name “GintaroYajima” in a search-related keyword data item g1 is associated with acommon name “Gintaro” and a popular name 1 “Gin-chan” being stored. Aformal name “Ringo-mama” in a search-related keyword data item g2 isassociated with a common name “Mama” in storage.

In each of the dictionaries, as described, the common and popular nameswhich correspond to their formal counterparts and which have beenacquired from all content information about the EPG data or EPG keyworddata are recorded as search-related keyword data. The formal, common andpopular names are stored in properly associated relation with oneanother.

How the EPG keyword space 45 is updated will now be described withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 12. The updating process is initiatedby the CPU 91 of the server 23 causing the communication section 99 toacquire periodically the EPG data from the EPG providing apparatus 24and storing the acquired data into the EPG database 162. In step S1 ofFIG. 12, the EPG data acquisition section 142 acquires the EPG data fromthe EPG database 162 and sends the acquired data to the EPG keywordspace generation section 143.

In step S2, the EPG keyword data acquisition section 141 acquires theEPG keyword data from the EPG keyword database 161. The acquire data issupplied to the EPG keyword space generation section 143.

In step S3, the EPG keyword space generation section 143 carries out anEPG keyword space generating process% This process is describedhereunder by referring to the flowchart of FIG. 13.

In step S21 of FIG. 13, the EPG keyword space generation section 143compares the EPG data from the EPG data acquisition section 142 with theEPG keyword data from the EPG keyword data acquisition section 141 formatching. In the case of a match, step S22 is reached. In step S22, theEPG keyword space generation section 143 causes the output section 97 todisplay on its monitor the EPG keyword data deemed to match with the EPGdata.

If in step S21 no match is found between the EPG data and the EPGkeyword data (i.e., if there is no EPG keyword data matching with theEPG data), then step S23 is reached. In step S23, the EPG keyword spacegeneration section 143 causes the output section 97 to display on itsmonitor a screen indicating there exist no EPG keyword data matchingwith the EPG data.

The administrator of the server 23 may wish to add other EPG keyworddata when viewing the EPG data and EPG keyword data displayed in stepS22, or when looking at the screen saying there exist no EPG keyworddata matching with the EPG data in step S23. In either case, theadministrator enters other EPG keyword data through the input section96.

In step S24, the EPG keyword space generation section 143 checks whetherEPG keyword data is input with regard to the EPG data. If EPG keyworddata is found to be input, step S25 is reached. In step S25, the EPGkeyword space generation section 143 adds the EPG keyword data. The EPGkeyword data added here may be stored into the EPG keyword database 161by the EPG keyword data acquisition section 141 for use at the next EPGdata update.

If in step S24 no EPG keyword data is found to be input with respect tothe EPG data, then step S25 is skipped.

In step S26, the EPG keyword space generation section 143 generates anEPG keyword space 45 based on the EPG data and on the EPG keyword datacorresponding to the EPG data (including the EPG keyword data added instep S25).

In step S4 of FIG. 12, the EPG keyword space recording section 144records the generated EPG keyword space 45 into the EPG keyword spacedatabase 163. This action updates the EPG keyword space database 163.

In step S5, the search dictionary processing section 102 performs asearch keyword dictionary generating process based on the generated EPGkeyword space 45. How this process is carried out will now be describedwith reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14.

In step S41, the search keyword dictionary generation section 153acquires dictionary definition data 203 from the search keyworddictionary database 165. In step S42, the EPG keyword acquisitionsection 151 acquires from the EPG keyword space database 163 the EPGkeyword data and EPG data included in the newly recorded EPG keywordspace 45. The acquired data is sent to the search keyword dictionarygeneration section 153.

In step S43, the search keyword dictionary generation section 153 addsthe acquired EPG keyword data and EPG data according to the dictionarydefinition data 203, thereby generating the component dictionariesconstituting the EPG-related dictionary 202.

In step S44, the search keyword material acquisition section 152acquires search keyword material data from the search keyword materialdatabase 164, and supplies the acquired data to the search keyworddictionary generation section 153. In step S45, the search keyworddictionary generation section 153 generates a general synonym dictionary201 based on the acquired search keyword material data.

If no new search keyword material data is added to the search keywordmaterial database 164, then steps S44 and S45 may be skipped.

In step S6 of FIG. 12, the search dictionary recording section 154records into the search keyword dictionary database 165 either theEPG-related dictionary 202 generated in step S43 or the general synonymdictionary 201 generated in step S45. This action updates the searchkeyword dictionary database 165.

As described above, the EPG keyword space database 163 is updated asneeded in keeping with the EPG data, and the search keyword dictionarydatabase 165 is updated on the basis of the updated EPG keyword spacedatabase 163. This makes it possible for the server 23 to be always inpossession of the up-to-date EPG keyword space database 163 or searchkeyword dictionary database 165.

Described below with reference to FIG. 15 is the search function of theserver 23 utilized by the user who, in possession of the user terminal21, searches the server 23 for desired broadcast content. FIG. 15 is ablock diagram showing another typical functional structure of the server23. The function blocks shown in the structure of FIG. 15 areimplemented by the CPU 91 carrying out corresponding control programs.Of the function blocks in FIG. 15, those with their counterpartsappearing in FIG. 6 are given the same reference numerals and theirdescriptions are omitted where redundant.

The search space processing section 103 is made up of a requestacquisition section 251, a search keyword dictionary search section 252,and a search keyword space generation section 253. The search processingsection 104 is formed by a search keyword space correction section 261and a matching section 262. The search display processing section 105 isconstituted by a result list generation section 271. The database 100includes an EPG database 162, an EPG keyword space database 163, and asearch keyword dictionary database 165.

The request acquisition section 251 acquires search information sentfrom the user terminal 21 via the communication section 99. The searchinformation is composed of at least one search keyword, as well as asearch condition and/or a search result display condition. The requestacquisition section 251 acquires the search keyword 41 from the searchinformation.

The search keyword dictionary search section 252 receives the searchkeyword 41 from the request acquisition section 251, and searches thesearch keyword dictionary database 165 for search-related keyword data(related information) associated with the search keyword 41. The searchkeyword space generation section 253 generates a search keyword space 43based on the search-related keyword data supplied from the searchkeyword dictionary database 165.

The search keyword space correction section 261 corrects the generatedsearch keyword space 43. The correcting process specifically involvesadding, as search-related keyword data, variable notations of the searchkeyword 41 making up the search keyword space 43 or of thesearch-related keyword data. As examples of the variable notations to beadded, “violin” and “biolin” are considered equivalent, and so are “A.Smith” and “A Smith.”

The matching section 262 matches the corrected search keyword space 43with the EPG data in the EPG database 162 and with the EPG keyword space45 in the EPG Keyword space database 163.

The result list generation section 271 receives through the requestacquisition section 251 a search display condition as part of the searchinformation coming from the user terminal 21. Based on the searchdisplay condition, the result list generation section 271 narrows downthe content information resulting from the matching so as to generate aresult list display screen. The generated screen is transmitted to theuser terminal 21 through the communication section 99.

A broadcast content searching process performed by the server 23 willnow be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 16. Through theinput section 66 of the user terminal 21, the user enters searchinformation by which to search for broadcast content (EPG data). The CPU61 causes the communication section 69 to transmit the searchinformation to the server 23 over the network 22.

In step S121, the CPU 91 of the server 23 controls the communicationsection 99 to receive the search information. In step S122, the requestacquisition section 251 acquires a search keyword 41 from the receivedsearch information, and supplies the acquired keyword 41 to the searchkeyword dictionary search section 252.

In step S123, the search space processing section 103 performs a searchkeyword space generating process. How this process is illustrativelycarried out is described hereunder with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 17.

In step S141, the search keyword dictionary search section 252 searchesthrough the EPG-related dictionary 202 in the search keyword dictionarydatabase 165. The process of searching through the EPG-relateddictionary 202 is discussed below with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 18.

In step S151, the search keyword dictionary search section 252 searchesthe content title dictionary 211 in the EPG-related dictionary 202 forthe search-related keyword data associated with the search keyword 41fed from the request acquisition section 251. In step S152, the searchkeyword dictionary search section 252 searches through the cast namedictionary 212 in the EPG-related dictionary 202. Described below withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 19 is the process of searchingthrough the content title dictionary 211.

In step S161 of FIG. 19, the search keyword dictionary search section252 searches the personality name dictionary 221 in the cast namedictionary 212 for the search-related keyword data associated with thesearch keyword 41 fed from the request acquisition section 251. In stepS162, the search keyword dictionary search section 252 searches thegroup name dictionary 222 in the cast name dictionary 212 for thesearch-related keyword data associated with the search keyword 41. Instep S163, the search keyword dictionary search section 252 searches thecharacter name dictionary 223 in the cast name dictionary 212 for thesearch-related keyword data associated with the search keyword 41.

Later, in step S142 of FIG. 17, the search keyword dictionary searchsection 252 searches the general synonym dictionary 201 in the searchkeyword dictionary database 165 for the search-related keyword dataassociated with the search keyword 41.

In step S143, the search keyword space generation section 253 generatesa search keyword space 43 based on the search-related keyword dataretrieved in the above steps as well as on the search keyword 41.

In step S124 of FIG. 16, the search keyword space correction section 261corrects any variable notations in the search keyword space 43 generatedby the search keyword space generation section 253.

In step S125, the matching section 262 matches the corrected searchkeyword space 43 with the EPG data in the EPG database 162 as well aswith the EPG keyword space 45 in the EPG keyword space database 163. Inpractice, the matching section 262 searches the EPG data and EPG keywordspace 45 for the search keyword space 43 based on the search informationreceived from the user terminal 21. The matching section 262 outputsonly the content information that includes the keyword and that has beendeemed to match to the search result display processing section 105.

For example, the EPG keyword space 44 holds additional information b2(FIG. 9A) as part of the broadcast content EPG keyword data 181regarding all content titles related to “World news satellite.” Thecontent title dictionary 211 holds a common name “WNS,” a popular name“World news,” and other search-related keyword data d1 (FIG. 11A) withrespect to the formal title “World news satellite.” Under theseconditions, a search made with the formal name “World news satellite”used as the search keyword 41 can retrieve from the EPG data allbroadcast content titles carrying “World satellite news,” “WNS” or“World news.”

In another example, the EPG keyword space 44 holds additionalinformation about a personality “Takiya Kimura” regarding all contenttitles in which “Takiya Kimura” appears (i.e., the additionalinformation cl (FIG. 9B) is shown as part of the cast name EPG keyworddata 182 regarding all broadcast content titles related to “TakiyaKimura”). The personality name dictionary 221 holds a common name“Kimutaki,” a popular name “Takiya,” and other search-related keyworddata e2 (FIG. 11B) with respect to the formal name “Takiya Kimura.”Under these conditions, a search made with the common name “Kimutaki”used as the search keyword 41 can retrieve from the EPG data allbroadcast content titles carrying “Takiya Kimura” or “Kimutaki.”

FIG. 20 is a tabular view showing a typical structure of anotherdictionary to be stored in the EPG data-related dictionary 202. In FIG.20, the group name “SNAP” as part of search-related keyword data h1 isassociated with a personality name 1 “Takiya Kimura,” a personality name2 “Ringo Katori,” and a personality name 3 “Masahiro Nakata” registeredas members of the group SNAP. When group names and the personality namesof members belonging to these groups are stored in suitably associatedrelation with one another in the EPG data-related dictionary 202, asearch made with, say, “Kimutaki” used as the search keyword 41 canretrieve not only the broadcast content titles carrying “Kimutaki” and“Takiya Kimura” but also the content titles containing “SNAP” and“Sunappu.”

In step S126, the result list generation section 271 narrows down thematching (i.e., retrieved) content information in accordance with thesearch display condition as part of the search information received fromthe user terminal 21, thereby generating result list display screeninformation. In step S127, the result list generation section 271 causesthe communication section 99 to transmit the result list display screeninformation to the user terminal 21.

In turn, the CPU 61 of the user terminal 21 controls the communicationsection 69 to receive the result list display screen information, andcauses the output section 67 to output on its monitor a list displayscreen showing the content information as the result of the search.

The search display condition is a condition designated by the user uponstart of a search. As in the case of general search result displayscreens, the condition may stipulate that the content informationresulting from searches be displayed in alphabetical order of retrievedcontent titles or in the order of the start times at which the contenttitles are to be broadcast. Alternatively, a list of the contentinformation resulting from searches may be displayed in such a mannerthat the retrieved search-related keyword data is incorporated into thesearch display condition upon generation of a search keyword spaceaccording to this invention.

For example, a search made with “Kimutaki” used as the search keyword 41retrieves from the personality name dictionary 221 the search-relatedkeyword data e2 (FIG. 11B) including the common name “Kimutaki” andpopular name “Takiya” with regard to the formal name “Takiya Kimura.” Asearch keyword space 43 is then generated on the basis of thesearch-related keyword data e2, and content information is retrievedfrom the search keyword space 43. Illustratively, the result of thesearch may be presented as six hits with the keyword “Takiya Kimura,”four with “Kimutaki,” and one with “Takiya.” That is, the hits from thesearch may be displayed in descending order of the hit counts by keyword(i.e., by search keyword 41 or by search-related keyword data).

It might happen that the search keyword dictionary database 165 or EPGkeyword space database 163 is supplemented with attributes representingcharacteristics of search keywords. If any attributes applicable to agiven keyword constitute information category items helpful to the user,these data attributes may also be incorporated into the search displaycondition.

For example, the search keyword dictionary database 165 or EPG keywordspace database 163 may include a cast role dictionary representing suchattributes as “singer,” “leading part” or “guest” with regard to eachkeyword such as “Takiya Kimura.” In that case, a search made with“Kimutaki” used as the search keyword 41 may retrieve illustrativelyfive broadcast content titles in which the personality appears as a“singer” (e.g., popular song programs), three content titles in whichthe personality plays the “leading part,” and one broadcast contenttitle in which the personality appears as a “guest” (e.g., a varietyshow or a talk show). That is, the hits from the search may be displayedin categories defined by the attributes of a given search keyword.

When the results from searches for content information are narrowed downas described above, it is possible to suppress the display of theinformation unnecessary for the user. Illustratively, a search made with“The United States of America” as the search keyword 41 may come up withthe results attributable to diverse associative keywords derived fromthe search keyword dictionary database 165. These keywords may include“America,” “USA,” “U.S.A.,” “Beikoku” (literally, the Rice Country inJapanese), and “Kome” (rice in Japanese, suggestive of the Rice Countrywhich means in Japanese the United States). The narrowing-down processdiscussed above then eliminates the irrelevant hits related to “Kome”(rice). In this manner, the user of the user terminal 21 is able toacquire satisfactory results from searches.

The series of steps and processes described above may be executed eitherby hardware or by software. For the software-based processing to takeplace, the programs constituting the software may be either incorporatedbeforehand in dedicated hardware of a computer or installed upon usefrom a suitable program storage medium into a general-purpose personalcomputer or like equipment capable of executing diverse functions basedon the installed programs.

As shown in FIG. 5, the program storage medium is offered to userseither as a package medium constituted by the magnetic disk 111(including flexible discs), optical disk 112 (including CD-ROM (compactdisc-read only memory) and DVD (digital versatile disc)),magneto-optical disk 113 (including MD (Mini-disc; trademark)), orsemiconductor memory 114; or in the form of the ROM 92 or the storagesection 98 which contains the programs temporarily or permanently.

In this description, the steps which describe the programs stored on theprogram storage medium represent not only the processes that are carriedout in the depicted sequence (i.e., on a time series basis) but alsoprocesses that may be performed parallelly or individually.

In this description, the term “system” refers to an entire configurationmade up of a plurality of component devices.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described, the apparatus and method according to the invention easilyprovide users with their expected results of searches for desiredbroadcast content. The inventive apparatus and method also present theresults of searches in a manner that optimally suits the users'purposes.

1. An information processing apparatus comprising: first generatingmeans for generating a content information space based on contentinformation and on additional information related to said contentinformation; receiving means for receiving search information from aninformation processing terminal over a network; first acquiring meansfor acquiring a search keyword from said search information received bysaid receiving means; searching means for searching a search-relatedinformation database for information related to said search keywordacquired by said first acquiring means; second generating means forgenerating a search keyword space based on said related informationretrieved by said searching means and on said search keyword; comparingmeans for comparing information in said content information spacegenerated by said first generating means with information in said searchkeyword space generated by said second generating means; preparing meansfor preparing a list of display-ready information from the informationdeemed to match as a result of the comparison by said comparing means;and transmitting means for transmitting said list of display-readyinformation prepared by said preparing means to said informationprocessing terminal.
 2. An information processing apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising updating means for updating saidsearch-related information database on the basis of said contentinformation space generated by said first generating means.
 3. Aninformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidpreparing means prepares said list of display-related information fromthe matching information derived from the comparison by said comparingmeans, in accordance with said search information.
 4. An informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising secondacquiring means for acquiring said content information from anotherinformation processing apparatus over said network.
 5. An informationprocessing method comprising: a first generation step of generating acontent information space based on content information and on additionalinformation related to said content information; a reception step ofreceiving search information from an information processing terminalover a network; an acquisition step of acquiring a search keyword fromsaid search information received in said reception step; a search stepof searching a search-related information database for informationrelated to said search keyword acquired by in said acquisition step; asecond generation step of generating a search keyword space based onsaid related information retrieved in said search step and on saidsearch keyword; a comparison step of comparing information in saidcontent information space generated in said first generation step withinformation in said search keyword space generated in said secondgeneration step; a preparation step of preparing a list of display-readyinformation from the information deemed to match as a result of thecomparison in said comparison step; and a transmission step oftransmitting said list of display-ready information prepared in saidpreparation step to said information processing terminal.
 6. A recordingmedium which records a program in a computer-readable format, saidprogram comprising: a first generation step of generating a contentinformation space based on content information and on additionalinformation related to said content information; a reception controllingstep of receiving search information from an information processingterminal over a network; an acquisition step of acquiring a searchkeyword from said search information received in said receptioncontrolling step; a search step of searching a search-relatedinformation database for information related to said search keywordacquired by in said acquisition step; a second generation step ofgenerating a search keyword space based on said related informationretrieved in said search step and on said search keyword; a comparisonstep of comparing information in said content information spacegenerated in said first generation step with information in said searchkeyword space generated in said second generation step; a preparationstep of preparing a list of display-ready information from theinformation deemed to match as a result of the comparison in saidcomparison step; and a transmission controlling step of transmittingsaid list of display-ready information prepared in said preparation stepto said information processing terminal.
 7. A program which controls acomputer to execute: a first generation step of generating a contentinformation space based on acquired content information and onadditional information related to said content information; a receptioncontrolling step of receiving search information from an informationprocessing terminal over a network; an acquisition step of acquiring asearch keyword from said search information received in said receptioncontrolling step; a search step of searching a search-relatedinformation database for information related to said search keywordacquired by in said acquisition step; a second generation step ofgenerating a search keyword space based on said related informationretrieved in said search step and on said search keyword; a comparisonstep of comparing information in said content information spacegenerated in said first generation step with information in said searchkeyword space generated in said second generation step; a preparationstep of preparing a list of display-ready information from theinformation deemed to match as a result of the comparison in saidcomparison step; and a transmission controlling step of controllingtransmission of said list of display-ready information prepared in saidpreparation step to said information processing terminal.